What additional parameter can be included in pump curves besides horsepower and efficiency?

Flow is a crucial additional parameter that can be included in pump curves, as it directly describes the volume of fluid that the pump can move over a given period of time. Pump curves typically graph the relationship between flow rate and various other performance metrics like head, horsepower, and efficiency. By incorporating flow into the analysis, operators can determine how well a pump will perform under different conditions and can identify the optimal operating range for the system.

When considering the importance of flow in pump curves, it helps operators assess whether a pump meets the system requirements. Understanding the flow rate at various heads allows for better matching of the pump to the system needs, which can enhance efficiency and performance.

While pressure rating, size, and power consumption are also important considerations in pump operation, they do not provide the same direct insight into how the pump performs in terms of fluid movement, which is the primary focus of pump curves. Pressure ratings relate more to the operational limits of the pump, size describes physical dimensions rather than performance, and power consumption is an outcome rather than a performance metric plotted on a pump curve.